Production on Marvel’s anticipated ensemble movie “The Avengers” finally kicked into gear last week, but has now shut down following a script leak.

The movie is being directed by Joss Whedon (who previously directed “Serenity” for the big screen) and will tie together threads already put in place in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” and “Captain America.” The overall plot of the film has been kept quiet but the website Obsessed With Film was recently contacted by an anonymous source offering to sell a copy of the script.

The site, which did not go through with the purchase, received several photographs confirming the authenticity of the script. The photos also confirmed that the script was assigned to Samuel L. Jackson, who will be reprising his role of Nick Fury.

Filming was quickly halted and script revisions have been commissioned for several scenes. It is unclear when production will resume.

ComingSoon confirms that the star will have a cameo in Columbia Pictures’ adaptation of 21 Jump Street, the television crime drama that transformed him into an 1980s teen idol and helped to kick-start his career.

Airing on Fox from 1987 to 1991, 21 Jump Street centered on a squad of young-looking undercover police officers who investigated crimes at high schools and colleges. The series featured a cast that included Holly Robinson, Dustin Nguyen, Peter DeLuise and Michael DeLuise, but Depp and Richard Grieco emerged as the breakout stars.

Rewritten by Jonah Hill from a draft by Josh Applebaum and Michael Bacall, the movie is reportedly an action-comedy about two cops (Hill and Channing Tatum) who go undercover as teenage brothers to bust a high school drug ring. The cast also features Ice Cube, Brie Larson, Rob Riggle, DeRay Davis, Dave Franco and Jake Johnson. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) are directing.

For those wanting to mix a little “Trouble With Tribbles” from the original “Star Trek” with “Trials and Tribble-ations” with “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” will have a chance to finally do that beginning July 1.

Netflix announced it would begin offering every television episode ever made in the Star Trek franchise on its streaming service, part of the company’s push to remain the dominant entertainment provider.

The Star Trek acquisition was part of an overall deal that CBS Corp. — the owners of the Star Trek television assets — struck with Netflix. Other shows from the CBS library being offered include “Twin Peaks” and “The Twilight Zone,” according to TrekMovie. Streaming will be available for two years under the current contract (with a two-year extension option), but will be available in the United States only.

The shows that will be streamed on Netflix include both the aforementioned original “Star Trek” and “Deep Space Nine” along with “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”

In all, 726 episodes of Star Trek between 1966 and 2005 will be added to the Netflix library, and it’s highly unlikely the media provider paid anything near the $1 million per episode it recently gave to the AMC critical hit “Mad Men.” For one thing, the “Mad Men” deal is exclusive, and Star Trek is not.

Also, many of these Star Trek episodes have been available on various formats to fans over the years, thus are much more readily available for fans.

And for fans of “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” we unfortunately have bad news for you. TAS is not part of the overall CBS/Netflix, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if you want to see some of the 1970s work behind the original Star Trek that helped keep the idea alive.

CBS took ownership of the Star Trek franchise in 2006 after Viacom split up its media holdings. However, Paramount Pictures still has rights to the movie side of the franchise, including the most recent blockbuster hit “Star Trek,” directed by J.J. Abrams.

Streaming Netflix is available online as well as through a number of mobile devices, including Apple Inc.’s iPad and iPad 2.
Tags: J.J. Abrams William Shatner CBS -by MICHAEL HINMAN,

The development of David E. Kelley’s “Wonder Woman” as a television series has been fraught with problems.

In the beginning, NBC passed on the project due to a steep license fee from Warner Brothers, only to renege on the decision following a changing of the guard at the network. Since then, news that has leaked on the pilot production hasn’t been entirely supportive.

Amongst the elements under fire is the costume choice for Adrienne Palicki, who will be playing the Amazonian Princess in the series. The outfit was based on the #600 costume that was introduced in the comics last year … a design that received considerable criticism on its own.

But no press is bad press apparently, and the backlash faced by the #600 design helped sell the comics. Likewise, the discussion over the creative decisions being made on the television series is only helping to circulate news of the show itself. However, it appears than NBC is listening to fans and more costume changes are being made.

What changes exactly? Shorts, further aligning the character to her classic look in the DC comic series and to Lynda Carter’s appearance in the classic show. The costume has already undergone some tweaks, like trading Palicki’s blue boots for red ones, and switching the material used in the long pants, but the shorts could be among the most dramatic changes to the series yet.

“There was an initial outcry about the long pants – you know, skintight pants as opposed to those little shorts [worn by Lynda Carter in the original TV series], but the shorts were always planned,” NBC President Robert Greenblatt said. “They are actually used in the final confrontation when she beats Veronica Cale. We haven’t made any changes from what was planned. But it’s always good to hear the feedback. I’d rather have people really passionately engaged in conversation, even if they hate something, than be kind of bored.”

Also under fire is the general plot of the pilot and news that Diana Prince will struggle with three identities on the show. Greenblatt insists though that the show is in safe hands with Kelley and further changes are unlikely to be made to appease those vocal about their dislikes of the series.

“There’s always critiques of everything,” he said. “If we listen to all of that, we would probably never be able to get the job done. David’s a great writer… and I actually think he’ll bring an intelligence to [the show] that other … writers might not. I think it’s going to be interesting to see it cut together. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that nothing is a safe bet. Even with the best of intentions and the best people, you just don’t know until you see it finished – and we’re a few weeks away from that. But it’s been getting a lot of attention. A lot.”
Tags: Wonder Woman Warner Bros. NBC David E. Kelley Adrienne Palicki -by ALAN STANLEY BLAIR,

Both “Warehouse 13” and “Eureka” have spent years pulling in record numbers to Syfy on Summer Tuesday nights. Now they’ll just have to do the same thing on Mondays.

The two popular shows move back a day when they premiere new seasons July 11, part of an overall summer schedule for Syfy that includes plenty of unscripted television as well.

“Eureka” returns for the back half of Season 4 at 8 p.m. as the town where geniuses thrive continues to recover from the major timeline changes caused by the trip back to 1947. However, an “accident of astronomical proportions” moves the town to one of its most ambitious projects yet, causing the town to rally around its scientists. But nothing is always bright, as some local secrets begin to emerge.

On “Warehouse 13,” which begins its third season at 9 p.m., the agents are still reeling from the sudden departure of Myka (played by Joanne Kelly). Yet Artie (Saul Rubinek) wastes no time in bringing a new agent to the fold, Steve Jinks, played by none other than Aaron Ashmore of “Smallville” fame. And he has a talent that will keep you honest.

Making its series premiere right after “Warehouse 13” at 10 p.m. is “Alphas,” a team of ordinary citizens with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Sound a little like “Heroes” or “X-Men”? Maybe, but it’s a bit of a cross between the two.

Like both, the Alphas are normal people trying to figure out new abilities. But like “X-Men,” they work together as a team. And it’s all done under the leadership of Zak Penn (writer of the upcoming “Avengers” movie directed by Joss Whedon) and Star Trek alum Ira Steven Behr.

The cast is really a lot of unknowns, except for David Strathairn who has appeared in a number of television shows and movies including “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “A League of Their Own.” The series also stars Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, Laura Mennell, Ryan Cartwright and Anita Ghanizada.

“Haven” returns July 15 with its much-anticipated Season 2. It was really one of Syfy’s only recent shows to survive its initial run (with shows like “Caprica” cut down in its first season, and “Stargate: Universe” abandoned in the second).

Based on a short story by Stephen King, “Haven” stars Emily Rose as Audrey Parker, who finds there is a lot of mystery in the sleepy town of Haven, Maine. Parker not only has to continue investigating various inflictions by the townsfolk, but also her own mystery and connections to the town.

Joining the series this season is Vinessa Antoine, who most recently played Judith Winter in “Being Erica.”

Syfy also has a huge number of reality shows on the schedule, including new series “Haunted Collector” and “Legend Quest.” Returning are “Hollywood Treasure” and “Ghost Hunters International.” -by MICHAEL HINMAN,